Chapter 142
We set off. People packed some food and loaded it into the car.
“Where are we going?”
At Shin Giyeon’s question, I glanced at the map on my phone for a moment. The place where the Story Merchant was. And…
‘Feels like it’s about time to loot all of this.’
Apocalypse Chapter 30.
Then a new event would open again. A massive event. I’d need to buy things to prepare for that event and get other stuff ready too.
Anyway, as for where to go…
‘Around here… Namsan.’
Originally, it was a route Sa Jaeheon would take, but he’d probably already cleared it. Since it’s a permanent event, he would’ve already gotten what he wanted.
‘Though permanent events are usually locked down.’
But if you use tricks, it’s not impossible. And I’m not talking about crude exploits. What kind of crude exploits?
‘Just blindly increasing the maximum number of participants.’
Of course, stupidly setting it to something as 100 million people got sanctioned. But cleverly chosen numbers didn’t.
For example, like this. You set the participant count to around 100, but instead of requiring all 100 to be filled to start, you divide them into separate sections so they can each run individual events.
So you make it so that people die or escape before the full 100 is ever reached.
The event set up in Namsan was like that. The maximum capacity was clearly 100, but it stubbornly never filled up.
That’s why it was “permanent.”
“Namsan. I saw it when we came last time. There was something like a huge tree.”
On purpose, we took a detour and circled Namsan once on the way. Lee Hoin seemed to remember too, and nodded.
“There’s probably something there. Anyway, let’s go check it out.”
At my words, Shin Giyeon glanced between Lee Hoin and me for a moment.
“I know you guys are capable, but I’m still worried. Keep in touch often. If we learn anything, we’ll tell you. Share information with us too.”
With a playful smile, she reached in and lightly tapped Lee Hoin’s shoulder in the passenger seat.
“Don’t get hurt. Let’s meet again.”
With the mood slightly softened, Lee Hoin, who had been on edge lately because of Kim Taekjin, gave a small smile and nodded.
“You too.”
Shin Giyeon tossed a few snacks inside the car and said,
“Eat while you go. And Muyeong, Hoin, thank you. For what happened with Hyehyeon unni, and for everything you’ve helped with. She’s gotten a lot better, so we’ll probably move our base soon.”
After exchanging final goodbyes, we started the car. I could see people waving us off. Kim Hyehyeon leaned out the window, waving, and behind her, someone seemed to be holding onto her.
It felt like we’d accomplished something. For the first time since falling into this world, it felt like we’d actually done something.
—
[Haha! I wonder how long that will last.]
—
Before heading to Namsan, we stopped by a gas station. The fuel was running low. While refueling, someone sped past the road with a loud vroom from their exhaust.
It went by too fast to see what it was.
‘Nothing surprising.’
There were probably still at least half the population alive in Seoul. Out of 9 million, that’s 4.5 million. Even half of that was still a lot.
As long as they passed by, it was fine. As long as they didn’t come back.
Lee Hoin stared at the car for a moment, then grabbed a bottle of water from inside the station and took a drink. Just then, the car that had passed by came back.
In reverse.
And at a ridiculously fast reverse speed.
“…What the hell?”
Which lunatic drives like that? As I stood there thinking that, Lee Hoin had already drawn his sword, raising it as if confronting an enemy.
I looked at the stopped car. Not just any lunatic… that’s a sports car. Bright red. What the…
Ziiing.
With that sound, the window rolled down.
“Hey!”
I wondered which lunatic it was.
It was Cha Hyeongseo.
‘…They say a leaky bucket leaks both inside and out.’
With a complicated expression, I looked at Cha Hyeongseo, who was waving cheerfully.
“Man, it’s been a while. How’ve you been?”
Cha Hyeongseo got out of the sports car lazily. Lee Hoin lowered his sword for now, but still spoke with a baffled expression.
“What the hell are you driving?”
“Why? It’s cool.”
The car itself was flashy as hell. But Cha Hyeongseo didn’t look much different from when we saw her at the event. Maybe she’d at least done laundry once… the bloodstains had faded, but she was still in the same torn school uniform.
“It’s too loud.”
“I’m faster than anything that comes when they hear the sound. I drive around 160, so nothing can catch me. Have you seen those things? The dog-like ones. Should I call them dogs? Or four-legged beasts with human heads? Anyway.”
Makes sense. Even if mutated creatures are fast, it’s easier to hunt something else than chase a sports car going 160.
Four-legged beasts with human heads. That’s an enhanced mutant too. One specialized in speed. It probably could have chased her, but more likely gave up midway for that reason.
“You’re alive? You too? You too?”
Cha Hyeongseo patted Lee Hoin’s shoulder hard, like she was genuinely glad. It looked like it should hurt both the one hitting and the one getting hit, but neither made a sound.
No idea if that’s some kind of macho posturing between people who work out, but anyway.
After the rough greeting, Cha Hyeongseo suddenly looked at the pale guy with glasses in the distance.
“What’s that thing?”
“Calling someone ‘that thing’ is a bit rude.”
Kim Taekjin said with a gentle smile. Then he approached and held out his hand.
“My name is Kim Taekjin. I’m traveling with them.”
Lee Hoin let out a deep sigh, clearly displeased with the situation. Maybe because of that, Cha Hyeongseo awkwardly accepted the handshake.
“Ah, yeah… I’m Cha Hyeongseo.”
Trying to lighten the mood, he said,
“Where were you headed?”
At my question, Cha Hyeongseo shrugged.
“I’m not exactly sure. Maybe Yeouido?”
“Not sure?”
Lee Hoin cut in.
“Ah, I’m traveling with someone. I’m just going wherever they say.”
…Someone?
An uneasy feeling crept up my spine. Probably just my imagination, right? Of course, I knew Cha Hyeongseo could be traveling with Sa Jaeheon. She’s a top priority target. But if Cha Hyeongseo is here…
‘That means Sa Jaeheon might be following.’
A chill ran up to the top of my head. I spoke immediately.
“Where’s the person you’re traveling with?”
“Oh, they went ahead. Weren’t they around here? They rode off on a bike. Didn’t you see them?”
A bike. While we were refueling, the only one who passed was Cha Hyeongseo. That means we arrived here at a perfectly overlapping time.
Yeouido.
If she’s heading to Yeouido…
‘He’s going there.’
Sa Jaeheon’s frequent go-to event. The Swamp of Oblivion. An event that appeared near the National Assembly building in Yeouido. Literally a swamp.
A swamp you must not touch.
The swamp keeps rising, so you just climb upward quickly and escape. A simple event that demands pure physical ability.
Sa Jaeheon had started preferring simple physical challenges. Thinking ones take long and strains your mind, but with physical ones, you don’t die easily.
‘And the hidden piece there is a big factor too.’
The reward items aren’t bad either, so it’s an event he has to go to.
The problem is… It’s not a permanent event.
‘Since it’s not permanent, I can’t go.’
But he will.
“Didn’t see them. Just saw you. But do you really drive like that in the city? You’ll die. Won’t even find your bones.”
At my words, Cha Hyeongseo shrugged again.
“The exhaust’s loud, so I kind of have to speed. Otherwise, everything comes swarming.”
Figures. Who the hell drives a sports car around like that? Is she insane?
“…Change your car. Not something loud like that.”
Aren’t there sports cars that aren’t that noisy? Honestly, I don’t know much about cars. Why is she so obsessed with making that much noise?
Cha Hyeongseo laughed lightly. A bright, carefree laugh.
“Hey, it’s stylish. I’ve wanted to drive something like this since I was a kid. Haven’t had it long. About three days?”
The fact that she survived three days driving that thing was a miracle.
I let out a sigh and nagged her a bit.
After a while, Cha Hyeongseo left, and we set off too. It was a nice reunion, but we all had our own paths to follow.
We shared some snacks with her, then headed to Namsan. We hid the car near the entrance and approached the massive tree. Just as we were about to go in…
A bright red sports car entered my view.
That damned, familiar bright red sports car.
—
[Labyrinth of Gluttony]
I need to digest.
I’m hungry.
I’m bored.
If you pass, I’ll give you a gift.
If you fail to pass, or lose your strength…
Then I’ll eat you.
Entering means you agree.
Current participants: 87/100
— Starving Devourer
—
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